File No Ex/161 (PLC/679)
February 2011
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS NOTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT SCHEME
(NICNAS)
FULL PUBLIC REPORT
Polymer in HyJet IV-A Plus and HyJet V
This Assessment has been compiled in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification
and Assessment) Act 1989 (Cwlth) (the Act) and Regulations. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification
and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) is administered by the Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing, and conducts the risk assessment for public health and occupational health and safety. The assessment
of environmental risk is conducted by the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities.
For the purposes of subsection 78(1) of the Act, this Full Public Report may be inspected at our NICNAS office
by appointment only at Level 7, 260 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.
This Full Public Report is also available for viewing and downloading from the NICNAS website or available on
request, free of charge, by contacting NICNAS. For requests and enquiries please contact the NICNAS
Administration Coordinator at:
Street Address:
Postal Address:
TEL:
FAX:
Website:
Director
NICNAS
February 2011
Level 7, 260 Elizabeth Street, SURRY HILLS NSW 2010, AUSTRALIA.
GPO Box 58, SYDNEY NSW 2001, AUSTRALIA.
+ 61 2 8577 8800
+ 61 2 8577 8888
www.nicnas.gov.au
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FULL PUBLIC REPORT ....................................................................................................................................... 3
1.
APPLICANT AND NOTIFICATION DETAILS .................................................................................... 3
2.
IDENTITY OF CHEMICAL ................................................................................................................... 3
3.
PLC CRITERIA JUSTIFICATION ......................................................................................................... 4
4.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES ....................................................................................... 4
5.
INTRODUCTION AND USE INFORMATION ..................................................................................... 4
6.
HUMAN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS ..................................................................................................... 5
6.1.
Exposure Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 5
6.2.
Toxicological Hazard Characterisation ........................................................................................... 5
6.3.
Human Health Risk Assessment ..................................................................................................... 5
7.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS .................................................................................................. 5
7.1.
Exposure Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 6
7.2.
Environmental Hazard Characterisation ......................................................................................... 6
7.3.
Environmental Risk Assessment..................................................................................................... 6
8.
CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 6
8.1.
Level of Concern for Occupational Health and Safety ................................................................... 6
8.2.
Level of Concern for Public Health ................................................................................................ 6
8.3.
Level of Concern for the Environment ........................................................................................... 6
9.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET .................................................................................................... 6
9.1.
Material Safety Data Sheet ............................................................................................................. 6
10.
RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................................................................................... 6
10.1.
Secondary Notification ................................................................................................................... 7
February 2011
NICNAS
FULL PUBLIC REPORT
This assessment report is for an extension of original assessment certificate for Polymer in HyJet IV-A Plus and
HyJet V. Based on the submission of new information by the extension notifier, some sections of the original
assessment report for Polymer in HyJet IV-A Plus and HyJet V have been modified. These modifications have
been made under the heading ‘Extension Applicant’ in the respective sections.
Polymer in HyJet IV-A Plus and HyJet V
1.
APPLICANT AND NOTIFICATION DETAILS
APPLICANT(S)
Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd (ABN: 88 004 052 984)
12 Riverside Quay
South Bank VIC 3006
Applicant for an Extension of the Original Assessment Certificate:
Aviall Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 38 006 224 764)
20-22 Lindaway Place,
Tullamarine, VIC 3043
NOTIFICATION CATEGORY
Polymer of Low Concern
EXEMPT INFORMATION (SECTION 75 OF THE ACT)
Data items and details claimed exempt from publication:
Chemical Name, Other Names, CAS Number, Molecular and Structural Formulae, Molecular Weight,
Polymer Constituents, Residual Monomers/Impurities, Manufacture/Import Volume, and
concentration in end use products.
Extension Applicant:
No exempt information is required for the extension application.
VARIATION OF DATA REQUIREMENTS (SECTION 24 OF THE ACT)
No variation to the schedule of data requirements is claimed.
PREVIOUS NOTIFICATION IN AUSTRALIA BY APPLICANT(S)
None
NOTIFICATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES
Not known
2.
IDENTITY OF CHEMICAL
MARKETING NAME(S)
HyJet IV-A Plus and HyJet V
Extension Applicant:
No change in Marketing name
MOLECULAR WEIGHT (MW)
Number Average Molecular Weight (Mn)
>10000
REACTIVE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
The notified polymer contains only low concern functional groups.
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February 2011
3.
NICNAS
PLC CRITERIA JUSTIFICATION
Criterion
Criterion met
(yes/no/not applicable)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Molecular Weight Requirements
Functional Group Equivalent Weight (FGEW) Requirements
Low Charge Density
Approved Elements Only
Stable Under Normal Conditions of Use
Not Water Absorbing
Not a Hazard Substance or Dangerous Good
The notified polymer meets the PLC criteria.
4.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Appearance at 20°C and 101.3 kPa
Glass Transition Temp
Clear colourless gel-like material
-127.2 °C (initial glass transition
temperature from Differential Scanning
Calorimetry heating curve)
960 kg/m3 at 25°C
Negligible based on the polymer containing
almost all hydrophobic groups.
Not applicable.
Expected to be stable under ambient
conditions but contains functional groups
which may undergo hydrolysis under
extreme pH and temperature conditions.
Under normal conditions of use in
hydraulic system equipment (such as
pumps, servovalves, actuators, etc) the
notified polymer may degrade to simpler
organic molecules over time.
Density
Water Solubility
Dissociation Constant
Reactivity
Degradation Products
5.
INTRODUCTION AND USE INFORMATION
MAXIMUM INTRODUCTION VOLUME OF NOTIFIED CHEMICAL (100%) OVER NEXT 5 YEARS
Year
Tonnes
Extension Application
Year
Tonnes
1
<4
2
<4
3
<4
4
<4
5
<4
1
<2
2
<2
3
<2
4
<2
5
<4
USE AND MODE OF INTRODUCTION AND DISPOSAL
Mode of Introduction
The notified polymer will be imported as a component of aviation hydraulic fluids (finished products)
at concentrations of <15%. It will be imported into Melbourne in sealed steel containers of the
following sizes: 0.95L, 3.8L, 18.9L, and 208.2L. It will be transported by road and/or rail to a storage
warehouse.
Reformulation/manufacture processes
No manufacture or reformulation will occur in Australia.
Use
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NICNAS
The notified polymer will be used for industrial purposes only as a viscosity index improver in aviation
hydraulic fluids.
During end use, the finished product containing the notified polymer will be transferred from the
import containers to the aircraft hydraulic system reservoir. From 0.95L cans, oil may be withdrawn by
piercing the can, or by using a special dispensing unit. From 3.8L cans, the cap would be opened and
then the oil pumped through a hose to the fill connection of the aircraft hydraulic system reservoir. For
some aircraft, oil may be poured into an auxiliary reservoir and then later transferred by a pump and
hard piping to the main reservoir. Alternatively, 18.9L cans or drums may be transferred to a
dispensing unit or hydraulic cart that will be used to fill the main reservoir through a hose connection.
Any oil drainage from the system will be through hosing into a dedicated waste container.
Maintenance operations such as repair or replacement of hydraulic parts would involve isolation of the
part from the oil flow, and then drainage of the oil either locally or through a hose connection.
Extension Application:
The use of the notified polymer is similar to that for the original assessment certificate.
6.
HUMAN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
6.1.
Exposure Assessment
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
Transport workers may be exposed to the notified polymer in the unlikely event of a spill or leakage
during transit.
Dermal, ocular and possibly inhalation exposure of workers to the notified polymer may occur due to
residues, spills, and splashes when opening the import containers, transferring to the aircraft,
connecting and disconnecting lines and hoses, and handling of aircraft hydraulic system parts that may
contain small amounts of the notified polymer (for example, during maintenance operations). Exposure
should be mitigated by performing all work involving the notified polymer in well ventilated areas, and
the wearing of personal protective equipment, including gloves and eye protection.
PUBLIC EXPOSURE
The notified polymer is intended only for use in industry and as such, public exposure to the notified
polymer is only expected in the unlikely event of an accidental spillage during transport.
6.2. Toxicological Hazard Characterisation
No toxicological data were submitted. The notified polymer meets the PLC criteria and can therefore
be considered to be of low hazard.
6.3.
Human Health Risk Assessment
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Although exposure to the notified polymer could occur during end use of the notified polymer in
aircraft hydraulic systems and maintenance of aircraft hydraulic systems, the risk to workers is
considered to be low due to the intrinsic low hazard of the notified polymer.
PUBLIC HEALTH
The public will only be exposed to the notified polymer in the unlikely event of a transport accident.
Where exposure occurs, the low hazard of the polymer translates to low risk. Therefore, the risk to the
public from exposure to the notified polymer is considered to be negligible.
Extension Application:
As the proposed use is similar to the original assessment, there are no changes to the human health risk
assessment.
7.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
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February 2011
7.1.
NICNAS
Exposure Assessment
ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE
No manufacture or reformulation will occur in Australia. The notified polymer will only be used by
trained personnel in closed loop systems. It is expected that less than 3% (< 120 kg per annum) will
remain in import containers. This will be sent to drum recyclers and is likely to be disposed of by
incineration. Given the specialised use, all of the used hydraulic fluid is expected to be collected for
proper disposal.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Used hydraulic fluid may be re-refined, used as low grade burner oil, or disposed of by incineration. It
is expected to be combusted to form oxides of carbon and water vapour or be re-refined and converted
to simpler organic molecules.
7.2. Environmental Hazard Characterisation
No ecotoxicological data were submitted. PLCs without significant ionic functionality are of low
concern to the aquatic environment.
7.3. Environmental Risk Assessment
The polymer is a PLC without significant ionic functionality and is unlikely to be hazardous to the
aquatic environment. It is also expected that all of the polymer will be properly disposed of with no
release to the aquatic environment. The notified polymer is therefore unlikely to pose an unacceptable
risk to the aquatic environment.
8.
CONCLUSIONS
8.1. Level of Concern for Occupational Health and Safety
There is Low Concern to occupational health and safety under the conditions of the occupational
settings described.
8.2. Level of Concern for Public Health
There is Negligible Concern to public health when used in the proposed manner.
8.3. Level of Concern for the Environment
The polymer is not considered to pose a risk to the environment based on its reported use pattern.
Risk assessment and recommendation relating to the extension application
The proposed use of the notified polymer will not change under the proposed extension. The circumstances in
the extension application are not expected to impact on the original human health and environment risk
assessment. Therefore, there are no changes required in the risk assessment and recommendations.
9.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
9.1. Material Safety Data Sheet
The notifier has provided MSDS as part of the notification statement. The accuracy of the information
on the MSDS remains the responsibility of the applicant.
Extension Application:
The applicant for extension application has provided an MSDS of a product containing the notified polymer.
The accuracy of the information on the MSDS remains the responsibility of the extension applicant.
10.
RECOMMENDATIONS
CONTROL MEASURES
Occupational Health and Safety
 No specific engineering controls, work practices or personal protective equipment are
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NICNAS
required for the safe use of the notified polymer itself, however, these should be selected on
the basis of all ingredients in the formulation.
Guidance in selection of personal protective equipment can be obtained from Australian,
Australian/New Zealand or other approved standards.

A copy of the MSDS should be easily accessible to employees.

If products and mixtures containing the notified polymer are classified as hazardous to health
in accordance with the NOHSC Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances,
workplace practices and control procedures consistent with provisions of State and Territory
hazardous substances legislation must be in operation.
Environment
Disposal

The notified polymer should be disposed of by authorised incineration.
Emergency procedures

Spills and/or accidental release of the notified polymer should be handled by physical
containment such as diking. Adsorb with inert material (diatomaceous earth, fire retardant
treated saw dust, etc) and collect for disposal.
10.1. Secondary Notification
The Director of Chemicals Notification and Assessment must be notified in writing within 28 days by
the notifier, other importer or manufacturer:
(1)
Under subsection 64(1) of the Act; if
 the notified polymer is introduced in a chemical form that does not meet the PLC criteria.
or
(2)
Under subsection 64(2) of the Act:
- if any of the circumstances listed in the subsection arise.
The Director will then decide whether secondary notification is required.
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